MARCELLUS – Whatever worries the Cazenovia football team may have provoked during its 0-3 start are now long gone.
The Lakers are in the midst of an October resurrection that reached a new peak Friday night when it traveled to Marcellus and knocked off the unbeaten, state Class C no. 13-ranked Mustangs 47-38.
Start to finish, Cazenovia got a breathtaking all-around performance from Bobby Livingston, who accounted for more than 400 yards of total offense and also paced the defensive unit.
Despite all he had done, though, the Lakers clung to a 39-38 lead early in the fourth quarter, only staying in front because Wyatt Scott intercepted a possible go-ahead two-point conversion after Marcellus had pulled within one.
With more than eight minutes to play, Cazenovia gained possession near midfield. Then it lurched forward, twice having to make clutch conversions including a third-down-and-22 when Livingston hit Paul Mitchell for 24 yards.
Even with that, the Mustangs appeared ready to take over on downs when it stopped a fourth-and-13, only to have a personal foul keep the Lakers’ offense on the field.
Having gained the first downs necessary to run out the clock, Livingston then scored with 1:05 left. More importantly, the Lakers added a clinching two-point conversion.
So ended a night where Livingston had constantly burned the Marcellus defense, completing 18 of 25 passes for 273 yards while also gaining 140 yards on the ground on 21 carries, the longest of which was a 69-yard dash to set up a touchdown.
Trailing 6-0 early, the Lakers took the lead for good on Livingston’s 11-yard scoring scramble and a Carter Bowden extra point before Livingston found Scott on a 35-yard TD pass.
These plays, along with a second Livingston scoring run and a 26-yard TD pass to Mitchell, gave Cazenovia a 27-20 halftime lead. Mitchell would finish the night with five catches for a career-best 141 yards.
Twice in the third quarter, the Lakers scored to stretch the margin, only to have Marcellus answer, one of them an 87-yard kick return for six points, all of which led to the drama of the final minutes.
As if all he did on offense wasn’t enough, Livingston recorded a season-best eight solo tackles on defense. Bryce Enders had five tackles and six assists.
Cazenovia returns home to Buckley-Volo Field to meet Bishop Ludden/SAS in next Saturday’s regular-season finale at 1:30, aiming for its fourth win in a row and to finish third in the Class C West division.
